Hinge mechanism having plate stops for a flexible display device

ABSTRACT

A foldable touch screen display device with a flexible display including segments that can be folded from a compact state to an expanded state, and including a hinge mechanism having plate stops is described. The form factor of the compact state is comparable to a handheld phone. The form factor of the expanded state is comparable to a larger phone or tablet computer. Both states may include an integrated speaker and microphone. The hinge mechanism&#39;s plate stops provide a support structure below and in between the device&#39;s flexible display segments, preventing folding beyond a flat open state to an obtuse angle. The device can include sensors to indicate the state of configuration and mechanisms for alignment, locking, and further structural support. A module attached to at least one segment of the flexible display or rigid display may contain all processing and memory, and a communications system usable in any state.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No.62/994,571, filed Mar. 25, 2020 and titled “HINGE MECHANISM HAVING PLATESTOPS FOR A FLEXIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE,” which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to computing devices, and moreparticularly, to a computing device with a touch screen display that canbe folded from a compact state to an expanded state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of handheld computing devices today has been significantlyenabled by a number of advancements in electronics, including theminiaturization of components, an increase in processing speeds,improved memory capacity, and the optimization of battery efficiency.Advancements in touch screen display technology have also enabledinterfaces to become more adaptable and intuitive to use on a smallscale. Because of these enormous improvements over the last decade, thedifferences in the performance between handheld computing devices, suchas mobile phones, and larger computing devices, have become increasinglysubtle.

The use of handheld computing devices today has been significantlyenabled by a number of advancements in electronics, including theminiaturization of components, an increase in processing speeds,improved memory capacity, and the optimization of battery efficiency.Advancements in touch screen display technology have also enabledinterfaces to become more adaptable and intuitive to use on a smallscale. Because of these enormous improvements over the last decade, thedifferences in the performance between handheld computing devices, suchas mobile phones, and larger computing devices, have become increasinglysubtle.

There is therefore a need for touch screen display devices that can beadjusted in size without sacrificing the convenience of being small andhandheld. There is also a need for a structural hinge supports that canprevent a device from folding to undesirable angles that would comprisethe life span of a flexible display or damage it to be unusable.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

To mitigate the difficulties associated with a small-scale touch screen,variations on flexible displays and the implementation of multiplescreen displays have been proposed to enable the transformation of adisplay from a compact state to an expanded state. Although the use offlexible displays and multiple screen displays offer the advantages of atransformation in scale, there are still a number of limitations to howthey can be implemented. For example, since a flexible display has aradius when folded, it is difficult to configure multiple segments intoa folded position where the thickness of the device is not compromised.If a flexible display is to be used as a touch screen, a reconfigurablestructure that can prevent the device from folding to an obtuse anglebeyond the flexible display's folding capacity would be advantageous ifbuilt to reduce the mechanical complexity and thickness of the device.

There is a need for a computing device that can retain the form factorand functionality of a phone, while also providing a touch screendisplay that can be reconfigured from a compact state to an expandedstate. Furthermore, there is a need for structural hinge supports thatcan prevent a flexible display from folding to obtuse angles beyond itsfolding capacity.

A foldable touch screen display device with a flexible display made upof segments that can be folded from a compact state to an expanded statewhich also includes a hinge mechanism having plate stops is disclosed.The form factor of the compact state is roughly the size of a typicalhandheld phone or smaller. The form factor of the expanded state isroughly the size of a larger phone or tablet computer, which may alsoinclude the mechanical functionality of a laptop. Both states mayinclude an integrated speaker and microphone. The hinge mechanism'splate stops provide a support structure situated below and in betweenthe device's flexible display segments which prevents the device fromfolding beyond a flat open state to an obtuse angle and may be situatedbetween two or more segments. The device may further include sensors toindicate the state of configuration and mechanisms for alignment,locking, and further structural support. In one embodiment, a moduleattached to, situated within, or otherwise associated with at least onesegment of the flexible display or rigid display may contain all orsubstantially all processing and memory, along with a communicationssystem, which may be used in any state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation,together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when readwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a foldable computing device in anexpanded state with its flexible display and hinge mechanism shown atthe center of the device with hidden lines, and a back perspective viewof the foldable computing device showing the underside of the hinge;

FIG. 2 is a front view and a back view of the foldable computing devicefrom FIG. 1 shown with its flexible display and hinge mechanism;

FIG. 3 shows two sectional views of the foldable computing device andhinge mechanism in an expanded state, as shown in FIG. 1 , where the topview illustrates the upper section of the device and hinge, and thebottom view illustrates the middle section of the device and hinge;

FIG. 4 shows the same two sectional views of the foldable computingdevice and hinge mechanism from FIG. 3 , but with the device configuredin a folded compact state;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the foldable computing device shown in anunfolded state above, and in a folded below;

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements for clarity. Further, where consideredappropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard,discussions utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing,”“computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulates and/or transforms datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information non-transitory storage medium thatmay store instructions to perform operations and/or processes. Althoughembodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, the terms“plurality” and “a plurality” as used herein may include, for example,“multiple” or “two or more”. The terms “plurality” or “a plurality” maybe used throughout the specification to describe two or more components,devices, elements, units, parameters, or the like. Unless explicitlystated, the method embodiments described herein are not constrained to aparticular order or sequence. Additionally, some of the described methodembodiments or elements thereof can occur or be performedsimultaneously, at the same point in time, or concurrently.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , a foldablecomputing device 11 is illustrated in diagram 17 in an expanded statewith a first flexible display segment 60 and a second flexible displaysegment 63 that can fold flat against each other through hinge 59, whichis situated between both segments. Diagram 17 of FIG. 1 furtherillustrates three major sections of hinge 59, which includes the topsection 51, the middle section 55, and the bottom section 53. Sections51 and 53 are mechanically and structurally configured as the same aseach other, while section 55 is a mirror of sections 51 and 53. Thedetails of these hinge sections and the plate stops that are directlyintegrated with them are further illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 . Indiagram 19, foldable computing device 11 is shown with its undersidefacing up to highlight how hinge 59 runs the full length of the devicefrom the device's top side 57 to its bottom side where peripheral port65 and speaker and microphone openings 66 are located. The left sidestructure 61 and the right side structure 67 can be seen in diagramdrawing from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 which support flexible display segments60 and 63. On the top part of left side structure 61 a camera 30 isintegrated, while the back part of right side structure 67 integrates asecondary camera 68.

To further elaborate on the details of hinge 59, FIG. 3 shows twosectional views of foldable computing device 11 with hinge 59 in anexpanded state, as the device is shown in FIG. 1 , where the firstsectional view 35 illustrates the top section 51 of hinge 59, while thesecond sectional view 37 illustrates the middle section 55 of foldablecomputing device 11 and hinge 59. In sectional view 35, a plate stop 85can be seen along the spine of hinge 59, which ultimately acts to stopplate 87 that extends from the right side structure 67 of foldablecomputing device 11 as it folds to an open position and supportsflexible display segment 63. On the left side of sectional view 35,plate stop 83 is shown at the left side of hinge 59, which ultimatelyacts to stop plate 81 that extends from left side structure 61 andsupports flexible display segment 60. In sectional view 37, a plate stop91 can be seen along the spine of hinge 59, which ultimately acts tostop plate 93 that extends from the left side structure 61 of foldablecomputing device 11 as it folds to an open position and supportsflexible display segment 60. On the right side of sectional view 37,plate stop 90 is shown at the right side of hinge 59, which ultimatelyacts to stop plate 95 that extends from right side structure 67 andsupports flexible display segment 63.

It should be noted that the primary function of these structural platestop features within a hinge sleeve is to prevent foldable computingdevice 11 from folding beyond a flat angle when it is an open state, andsimilarly preventing the display from folding beyond 90 degrees fromthat position when the device is in a folded state. This preventsflexible display segments 60 and 63 from being folded farther than theywere designed to be folded so that the display's functionality is notcompromised. When the device is in an unfolded state, it also needs toprovide structural support to counter the force of a user's fingersagainst the device when interacting with its touch screen. These sameplate stops situated with the hinge 59 and it folding mechanism couldalso be used to provide support to a foldable device that has a flexibledisplay which folds in such a way that the back of two display segmentsmeet with each other in the compact state. This is essentially theinversion of the embodiment disclosed in the drawings. Using plate stopswithin the hinge sleeve also provides a thinner assembly as comparedwith using a sleeve that is hidden away when the two structural segmentsare unfolded. It is important to note that this hinge configurationcould be implemented with a device that has more than two segments.

In FIG. 4 , sectional view 71 and all of its features corresponds withsectional view 35 from FIG. 3 , and sectional view 75 and all of itsfeatures corresponds with sectional view 35 from FIG. 3 . The primarydifference is that sectional views 71 and 75 from FIG. 4 show the devicein a folded state where the plate stop features prevent the device fromfolding beyond 90 degrees inward toward the center of the hinge. Becauseof the way that this hinge mechanism and its plate stops are configured,ultimately a thinner assembly is achieved compared with other kinds ofmechanical features that might be implemented to achieve similarresults. Implementing this design approach also reduces mechanicalcomplexity, which can further reduce cost and facilitate assembly of thedevice.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of foldable computing device 11 configured inan unfolded state from view 98, and then in a folded state from view 99.This diagram not only illustrates how the device folds as it relates tohinge 59, but it also shows how having a wedge shape can provide arectangular form when the device is in a folded compact state, as shownin view 99, while still providing the small gap and angles needed toretain a radius at the center of the flexible display integrated withfoldable computing device 11, which is situated between flexible displaysegments 60 and 63.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: (a) a flexibletouch-sensitive display comprising a first flexible touch-sensitivedisplay portion and a second flexible touch-sensitive display portion;wherein: (1) the first flexible touch-sensitive display portion isattached to a first structural support segment; (2) the second flexibletouch-sensitive display portion is attached to a second structuralsupport segment; (3) the flexible touch-sensitive display furthercomprises having a fully folded state; (4) the flexible touch-sensitivedisplay further comprises having a partially expanded state; and (5) theflexible touch-sensitive display further comprises having a fullyexpanded state; (b) a hinge sleeve structure connecting a firststructural support and a second structural support together having atleast one plate extending from the hinge sleeve structure; and (c) afirst plate integrated with the first structural support, and a secondplate integrated with the second structural support, wherein the firstplate or the second plate are stopped from moving when rotated againstthe at least one plate extending from the hinge sleeve structure;wherein (d) the first structural support and the second structuralsupport make up a triangulated shape in section when the apparatus is ina fully expanded state, whereby a distal end of the first structuralsupport away from the hinge sleeve structure is at its thinnest pointsuch that its shape tapers contiguously on at least one face of theapparatus to a thickest point at a distal end of the second structuralsupport away from the hinge sleeve structure; and (e) the firststructural support and the second structural support make up a shape insection with a rectangular boarder when the device is in a fully foldedstate.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the at least one plateextending from the hinge sleeve structure is positioned parallel to thelong top and the long bottom of the hinge sleeve structure.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein: the at least one plate extending from thehinge sleeve structure is positioned perpendicular to the long top andthe long bottom of the of hinge sleeve structure.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein: the first plate is stopped by the at least one plateextending from the hinge sleeve structure when the first structuralsupport is rotated to a folded position with respect to the secondstructural support.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the secondplate is stopped by the at least one plate extending from the hingesleeve structure when the second structural support is rotated to afolded position with respect to the first structural support.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein: the first plate is stopped by the at leastone plate extending from the hinge sleeve structure when the firststructural support is rotated to an unfolded position with respect tothe second structural support.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: thesecond plate is stopped by the at least one plate extending from thehinge sleeve structure when the second structural support is rotated toan unfolded position with respect to the first structural support. 8.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the fully folded state comprises afully folded angle between the first flexible touch-sensitive displayportion and the second flexible touch-sensitive display portion that isless than 10 degrees; and the fully expanded state comprises a fullyexpanded angle between the first flexible touch-sensitive displayportion and the second flexible touch-sensitive display portion that isbetween 170 and 190 degrees; and the partially expanded state comprisesan angle that falls between the fully folded state and the fullyexpanded state.
 9. An apparatus comprising: (a) a flexibletouch-sensitive display comprising a first flexible touch-sensitivedisplay portion and a second flexible touch-sensitive display portion;wherein: (1) the first flexible touch-sensitive display portion isattached to a first structural support segment; (2) the second flexibletouch-sensitive display portion is attached to a second structuralsupport segment; (3) the flexible touch-sensitive display furthercomprises having a fully folded state; (4) the flexible touch-sensitivedisplay further comprises having a partially expanded state; and (5) theflexible touch-sensitive display further comprises having a fullyexpanded state; and (b) a hinge sleeve structure connecting a firststructural support and a second structural support together; wherein (c)the first structural support and the second structural support make up atriangulated shape in section when the apparatus is in a fully expandedstate, whereby a distal end of the first structural support away fromthe hinge sleeve structure is at its thinnest point such that its shapetapers contiguously on at least one face of the apparatus to a thickestpoint at a distal end of the second structural support away from thehinge sleeve structure; and (d) the first structural support and thesecond structural support make up a shape in section with a rectangularboarder when the device is in a fully folded state.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 9 wherein: the fully folded state comprises a fully folded anglebetween the first flexible touch-sensitive display portion and thesecond flexible touch-sensitive display portion that is less than 10degrees; and the fully expanded state comprises a fully expanded anglebetween the first flexible touch-sensitive display portion and thesecond flexible touch-sensitive display portion that is between 170 and190 degrees; and the partially expanded state comprises an angle thatfalls between the fully folded state and the fully expanded state.